Students can go back in time while viewing ancient fossils, research from the 1800s and sketches of dragons at the newest exhibit in the University’s Hill Memorial Library.
The exhibit, titled “Paper Tigers and Biblio-Beasts: Creatures in the Collections,” focuses on a history of animals and their relevance to the human world. The exhibit contains sketches, written accounts and photographs spanning from the early 16th century to present day.
“You know, these books and drawings sometimes give us more context about the person writing it, rather than the animal itself,” Hill Memorial Exhibitions Coordinator Leah Wood Jewett said. “It helps us relate, and it helps us learn more about animals and humankind.”
Jewett said selecting items to include in the exhibit was a difficult process, as the library’s collection is so expansive and distinguished.
“The good thing is that if someone sees a book or topic they like, they can come back and explore further, and even read the book on display after the exhibit is over,” Jewett said.
The ground floor contains a section on beasts from mythology and manuscripts from early scientists like Charles Darwin, as well as an original painting from Spanish surrealist pioneer Salvador Dali and photographs depicting people adorned with bird feathers and animal pelts.
The second floor is a more comprehensive look at various sea life, insects and mammals. There are photographs and books dating back to the 16th century, like the book on the Aztec emperor Cuauhtémoc’s animal farm.
Jewett’s favorite book in the exhibit was written and illustrated by well-respected scientist Maria Sibylla Merian. Her book serves as a reminder of the impact people can have if they have enough passion fueling them.
Merian’s book is an example of a work being more than the sum of it’s parts. In the 1700s when it was published, Merian was at the forefront of women in science. The book demonstrates the importance of having exhibits and maintaining a connection to history, Jewett said.
The exhibit offers manuscripts and first-hand accounts of numerous discoveries in the scientific world, from bird watching to animal experimentation. However, the stories behind the items encased are just as important.
The displays show a connection between people today and those who lived centuries ago. They were trying to figure out their place in the world and began to curate the animal world in an attempt to better understand and explain their environment. Jewett encourages people to see the exhibit for a deeper understanding of the interconnectivity of people and animals.
Hill Memorial Library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibition is free and will be on display until Sept. 16.
